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Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the way in which informal
caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients experience their task as caregivers as well as
to identify factors, or general resistance resources, which exercise an
influence on their psychological well-being, and more specifically on their
sense of coherence.
The stressors encountered by informal caregivers of HIVIAIDS patients have
previously been investigated thoroughly in a number of studies. The tasks of
informal caregivers very often encompass much more than what would be, for
example, included in the nursing context and therefore exceed the limits
applying to the formal sector. Stressors to which caregivers are exposed
include physical, financial and emotional aspects. It has been proved that this
state of affairs has a negative impact on their physical health conditions as
well as their psychological well-being.
Caregivers do, however, at times report a certain extent of growth
experienced by them which can be related to the care giving situation. The
salutogenic perspective allows for a study of the origin of health and has, for
the purposes of this study, been applied to obtain an alternative description of
the caregivers' experiences. According to this perspective health does not
merely mean the absence of disease, but also refers to health being
influenced by an individual's management of stressful events. When an
individual, even if confronted with stressful circumstances, has adequate
general resistance resources at his/her disposal, a strong sense of coherence
can develop and this will have a positive influence on his/her psychological
well-being. In the South African context little if any literature can be found on
the salutogenic factors that may affect informal caregivers of HIV/AIDS
patients.
The investigation of this study was based on an availability sample consisting
of 8 informal caregivers of HIVIAIDS patients. A one shot cross sectional
design with triangulation of data assessment techniques was used. The
researcher obtained data with regard to the caregivers' sense of coherence by
means of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) (Antonovsky, 1987). Semistructured
interviews were conducted with all the caregivers involved and a
qualitative analysis followed.
The results revealed that informal caregivers' sense of coherence was much
lower than- that of a group of nurses (formal caregivers) as described by
Cilliers (2003). One of the reasons for this significant difference could be the
lack of a structured setting or environment in which caregivers still have to
perform their duties and responsibilities. According to the results a variety of
factors exercising a negative impact on informal caregivers' sense of
coherence could be identified. These included (a) stress, (b) exposure to
unfamiliar situations, and (c) a lack of counselling skills. Within the framework
of the salutogenic perspective there were, however, different factors also
known as general resistance resources, that exercised a positive impact on
the caregivers' sense of coherence. Among these the following could be
counted: (a) spirituality, (b) insight into interpersonal situations, (c) utilisation
of social support systems, and (d) multi-disciplinary cooperation. It would
therefore seem that informal caregivers do possess general resistance
resources which enable them to persevere with their tasks as caregivers in
spite of the stressors they encounter on a daily basis.
One of the recommendations that can be posed after having carried out this
study and after having analysed the results, is the compilation as well as the
evaluation and implementation, of a psycho-education training programme for
informal caregivers, with special emphasis on such general resistance
resources.